This is the flag I designed last year as an imagined/proposed flag for New
Zealand's South Island. I say "imagined/proposed", because if the
opportunity presents itself, I will propose it officially. A new political party
aimed at greater self determination for the South Island has been formed in
the last couple of months, so perhaps the time to propose this flag is getting
nearer... The flag contains the southern cross from the New Zealand flag, a
link with New Zealand (either indicating that we are part of that country, or
that we have developed from it - depending on the political climate at the time).
The white and green represent the mountains, farmland and forests for which
it is famous and from which it derives much of its income. James Dignan, 18 Sep 1997

This is the
flag I designed earlier this year as an imagined flag for New Zealand’s South
Island. There had been some debate about New Zealand
competing in various events like the Commonwealth Games around the same time as
Australians mulled competing as separate states in similar events. I used white as the basic color for the flag to represent the snow-clad
peaks of the Southern Alps. The red lower stripe represents
the traditional color of both the Maori and the British Empire, which shaped the
nation. The inscription ‘Te Wai Poenamu’ is the Maori name
for the South Island and copies several Maori flags that bore similar
inscriptions. The New Zealand White Ensign was chosen for
the canton as to blend into the white background, as well as to represent what
nation the South Island belongs to.Dean Thomas, 23 July 2004